ORDER OF MARCH. 41 



kind, an hour's drill daily, including ball practice, 

 gave thera a fair idea. Reid and Stacy made some 

 tolerably good shooting before we left. 



On the morning of the 24th, according to my in- 

 structions, I led the way with a hundred and fifty of 

 tlie porters up the country, Mr. Young, with the re- 

 mainder of the party (about fifty) following some dis- 

 tance behind. Six Makololo in full tog accompanied 

 me, the remainder keeping in the rear. Reid and 

 Buckley were also attached to my party, for which I 

 arranged the order of march as follows: — Buckley with 

 two Makololo — himself carrying a Snider ritie — to 

 bring up the rear ; Reid — also carrying a Snider — 

 and two Makololo about the centre ; myself, two 

 Makololo, and Chinsoro carrying a spare gun, as an 

 advanced guard, about a hundred and fifty to two 

 hundred yards ahead of the party. As we marched 

 along through the forest I made a Makololo scout on 

 either side keep a look-out- for game as well as the 

 Mavite. 



We had not gone more than a couple of miles when 

 I saw a herd of buffalo ahead, feeding quietly towards 

 us. I sent back one of the Makololos to stop the 

 head of the party, and taking Chinsoro and a spare 

 gun, stalked to within fifty yards without being per- 

 ceived by any of them. A fair bull now stood broad- 

 side on to me, intently gazing into the forest, perhaps 

 having winded me, or heard some distant noise 

 amongst the porters, for he stopped feeding, and 

 listened attentively. In the centre of the herd a fine 

 bull was scratching himself against a tree, but he was 

 some distance off, and did not offer a good shot. So I 



